Legal Definitions - privacy

In a general sense, privacy refers to an individual's right to be free from unwanted intrusion or observation into their personal life, space, and decisions. It encompasses the ability to control who has access to one's personal information, one's physical space, and one's personal choices, without undue interference from others, including the government or private entities.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of privacy:

• Example 1: Digital Information Privacy

  Imagine a popular fitness tracking app that collects data on users' daily runs, heart rates, and sleep patterns. If the app then sells this highly personal health data to insurance companies or marketing firms without the users' explicit consent, it would be considered a violation of their privacy. Users expect that the sensitive information they share with such an app will be kept confidential and used only for the stated purpose of helping them track their fitness, not for commercial exploitation.

  This illustrates privacy by highlighting an individual's right to control their personal data and prevent its unauthorized disclosure or use by others, especially in the digital realm.

• Example 2: Physical Space Privacy

  Consider a person living in an apartment building. Their expectation of privacy means that their landlord cannot simply walk into their apartment whenever they wish without providing proper notice or having a legitimate, pre-arranged reason (like an emergency or scheduled maintenance). The tenant has a right to the undisturbed enjoyment of their living space.

  This example demonstrates privacy as the right to a personal physical space free from uninvited intrusion, allowing an individual to feel secure and undisturbed in their own home.

• Example 3: Personal Autonomy and Decision-Making Privacy

  Suppose a local government passes a law requiring all adult citizens to regularly disclose their personal dietary habits and exercise routines to a state agency, claiming it's for public health monitoring. While public health is a legitimate concern, many would argue that such a mandate intrudes too deeply into highly personal lifestyle choices and decisions that do not directly harm others.

  This illustrates privacy as the right to make personal decisions about one's body and lifestyle without undue governmental interference, reflecting the idea of personal autonomy and freedom from excessive oversight in matters that are fundamentally private.